Rep. Anne Hughes

Maddy summarySB 1500 requires individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses against minors or nonviolent offenses (released after October 1, 1998) to verify their address annually through mailed forms and update changes within five business days. It mandates these registrants to maintain registration for ten years (or for life if they have prior convictions), with specific requirements to report name changes, new addresses, employment, or educational status. The bill repeals prior registration rules and adds verification steps to ensure accuracy, while allowing courts to exempt some offenders if public safety isn't at risk. Violating address reporting requirements can result in a class D felony charge.

Maddy summarySB 1522 renames Connecticut's "Community Investment Account" to the "Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account" and increases its funding. The bill directs $45 from each $50 document recording fee collected by town clerks (after retaining $2) to the account, effective July 2025. Funds are distributed as follows: 12% to agricultural sustainability, 25% each to the Departments of Economic Development (for historic preservation), Housing (affordable housing), Environmental Protection (open space grants), and Agriculture (for farm programs, food sales, and farmland preservation). This policy change directly affects municipalities (through fee collection) and state agencies (through funding allocations for specific programs).

Maddy summaryHB 7241 removes the requirement for Connecticut voters to provide a specific reason (such as military service, illness, or religious observance) when applying for an absentee ballot. Instead, voters will simply need to state they will not be able to vote in person at their polling place on election day. The bill updates the absentee ballot application form to reflect this change and adds rules for distributing applications to prevent misuse. This applies to all voters seeking absentee ballots for primary elections, general elections, or referendums.

Maddy summaryHB 6885 expands Connecticut's debt-free community college program to cover tuition and fees at Connecticut State Community Colleges for qualifying students. It provides awards covering the unpaid portion of tuition/fees after other financial aid (excluding loans), with minimums of $500 for full-time students and $300 for part-time students, for the first 72 credit hours. The program applies to Connecticut residents who graduated high school, enrolled full- or part-time in a degree/certificate program, completed the FAFSA, and met academic progress requirements. The Board of Regents must report on participation, award amounts, credit completion, and program outcomes to state legislators.

Maddy summaryHB 7186 establishes a pilot program requiring two body scanning machines to be installed at York Correctional Institution and John R. Manson Youth Institution by December 2025. The bill mandates that correctional staff use these machines instead of strip or cavity searches when typically performed, prioritizing their use for inspecting incarcerated individuals. It requires the Commissioner of Correction to submit multiple reports: an initial evaluation of current search procedures by February 2026, a detailed pilot program report by February 2027 (including scan data, search numbers, and contraband findings), and annual reports starting January 2026 on strip/cavity search practices. The bill directly affects incarcerated people at these two facilities and correctional staff, with no changes to existing search protocols beyond the pilot's scope.

Maddy summaryHB 6864 is Connecticut's state budget bill for the 2025-2027 biennium, appropriating $99.4 million from the General Fund to the Legislative branch and $48.9 million to the State Comptroller. It allocates specific funding amounts for agencies including Legislative Management, the Office of State Ethics, Elections Enforcement Commission, and the Office of Governmental Accountability, with minor adjustments to existing budgets (e.g., reducing the Secretary of the State's Early Voting funding by $2 million in 2026-2027). The bill contains no new policy provisions or program changes - it solely authorizes state spending for existing operations and services. This is a standard budget appropriation bill, not a policy measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress injury (PTSD) to include witnessing a serious physical injury that does not result in death or permanent disfigurement. It directly affects first responders (police, firefighters, EMTs), correction employees, telecommunicators, and healthcare workers - specifically broadening eligibility for PTSD claims beyond existing qualifying events like viewing a death or severe disfigurement. The key change adds "witnessing a serious physical injury" to the list of qualifying traumatic events under Section 31-294k, effective October 1, 2025. This allows eligible workers to file for PTSD-related compensation after observing such injuries during their duties, without requiring the injury to be fatal or cause permanent disfigurement.

Maddy summaryHB 6229 bans polystyrene foodware (like foam containers) and most single-use plastic items (including straws, stirrers, and food accessories) for food vendors, government agencies, schools, and businesses starting July 1, 2027. Exceptions include biodegradable straws provided upon request (especially for people with disabilities) and specific packaging uses like pre-sealed food or meat storage. The bill also requires state/municipal buildings and schools to install reusable water bottle filling stations when replacing drinking fountains, effective January 2027. A task force will study sustainable alternatives and report by February 2026, but the law itself focuses on direct restrictions and infrastructure changes.

Maddy summaryHB 7022 requires Medicaid to cover fertility diagnostic care, preservation services, and treatment for individuals with infertility, effective January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for medically necessary ovulation-enhancing drugs and at least three cycles of medication treatment to achieve pregnancy. The bill specifically defines "infertility" and requires the state to report by July 2026 on potential costs and Medicaid waivers for including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage. This expansion directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries seeking fertility care, which is currently not covered under standard Medicaid benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 7133 expands parole eligibility for individuals convicted of crimes committed between ages 18 and 21. Currently, similar rules apply only to those convicted under 18 or before October 1, 2005, while under 21. The bill allows these offenders to become parole-eligible after serving 60% of their sentence (or 12 years, whichever is greater) for sentences of 10-50 years, or after 30 years for sentences exceeding 50 years. This change takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to sentences for crimes committed while the person was under 21.